"This is good for consumers!"
:rolleyes:

I can't say that surprises me in the least. AA, despite their LCC approach in the "back of the bus" has made a push for the premium traveler. I do prefer their J hard product and Flagship lounges (and the PE @ 2-3-2 looks better than 2-4-2 PE from competitors not that I've flown it), to the Skyteam alternatives. It's just weird to have such a different experience on either side of that little curtain.

Not that I'm anywhere near an EXP, but it would be nice if the competition was a little fiercer between carriers, instead of monkey-see, monkey-do.

This change doesn't really affect me as I usually end up with about $25K spend, miles are also a non issue, EQM are over 150K for me. So thinning out EXPs is a good thing.
However, I find EXP pretty useless. Usually purchase J or F tickets as I don't want to play the upgrade game. SWUs are useless, scarce availability to use for someone else or me at booking. Elimination of F on most international routes means I can't really use them unless I go to LHR for a J to F upgrade. New Flagship lounges are nice, but I'd get access with my international J or as a lifetime Platinum member so no perk there. First class check in has disappeared, now its all one big priority line with everyone who has an AA credit card or Gold. Flagship check in is ok when available and I'm traveling to a qualified destination.

Takes effect 2019 for the membership year 2020.

How original! I wonder how things will change in the next recession. They probably won't because "American will never lose money again". Time will tell...

I am enjoying my OWE status on another airline. If I want F or J, I will buy it or redeem when it makes sense.

As someone aptly put it; it is the race to the bottom. I've flown 2 million miles with UA but could not stand how poor their hard product was. Eight across on a 777 in business class and NO F seating? If I were single and looking to meet people, then that's a great configuration. Came over to AA, have 688,000 BIS miles and was hoping to make it to lifetime gold. Yet I'm the dope that keeps thinking that has value???? I flew 135K this year and spent 18K, some of that was thru the great Barclay card bonuses, but that's going to be harder to make. In sum, there is NO more low hanging fruit with any airline. I believe it's going to be in my best interests to just pony up for F or B whenever I fly and if that's not possible fly UA because I'll be guaranteed a bulkhead or exit row seat in crunch class. OR I could lose 50 pounds and shrink 8 inches so I can fit in any piece of s__t seat the airlines graciously offer to ferry me to my destinations.

It means that you will need to spend $15K in 2019 to qualify for the 2020 year

I was on the fence about booking a C ticket on another airline for next year. This makes that decision easier now. Instead of actively booking OW tickets to get EXP (Ill be at 14k eqd this year), I'll settle for PP and more competitive pricing on flights. With my travel patterns, what am I really out? Some SWU's that rarely clear in advance anymore? Lower down on the upgrade list for the 3 times a year I fly this ragged airline? What hurts the most is going to be loosing the free redeposit on award tickets. I have a tendency to change them. I guess with some of the money I save, I'll still come out ahead!

Funny, same here. I was literally about to book a J flight to LHR to earn EP this year. But, I'd just make it with the current $12K requirement. Keeping PP and just having some flexibility to book on DL, B6, etc. when the times work better is a better option.

Thank you.

At least QR eqm and eqd didn't change.

I'm thinking I may go this route, as well. I had just at $13,000 EQD in travel this year. Another $2k would be doable but hard to justify without a major change in my travel profile. I'm not sure the systemwides are worth the effort. My biggest thing is loss of lounge access when traveling internationally, but frankly that's an area where PP excels. I also really like the EXP desk, they've been incredibly helpful for me this year. We'll see how this shakes out next year. I also managed to qualify on UA for Gold. Had I consolidated those travels on AA I'd have probably made the $15k cut but there are times when that's just not possible (routes, prices, etc).

:confused: This doesn't make much sense. Discounted first/business class fares are usually significantly less expensive than full Y fares. Unless they're really focusing this on government Y fares which are probably much much lower. Frankly there's rarely a reason to need to buy a full Y domestically, but on the other hand, often that's the only one-way fare available for overseas flights, and is usually more than discounted J.

Selfishly, I'm glad nothing is changing with the discounted "I" business class fares, there is an argument those should be less (though to be fair, not all I fares are actually so cheap).